Description
These chewy peanut butter cookies are a perfect blend of rich peanut flavor, soft texture, and a hint of sweetness. Easy to prepare and baked to perfection, they offer a delightful treat with a classic crisscross pattern on top, optionally enhanced with a sprinkle of sea salt.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup white granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cups unbleached flour
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Optional
- Sea salt (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, creamy peanut butter, brown sugar, and white granulated sugar. Mix until the mixture is smooth and creamy, ensuring no lumps remain.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Incorporate the egg and pure vanilla extract into the wet mixture, stirring thoroughly to blend all flavors evenly.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the unbleached flour, baking soda, and baking powder into the bowl. Stir gently until the dough is just combined, taking care not to overmix to maintain chewiness.
- Scoop and Shape Dough: Use about 2 tablespoons of dough per cookie. Shape each portion into a ball and place them spaced apart on the prepared baking sheet.
- Create Crisscross Pattern: Press down gently on each dough ball with a fork to make the classic crisscross pattern. If desired, sprinkle a pinch of sea salt on top to enhance the flavor contrast.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for approximately 9 minutes. The cookies should appear slightly underbaked to achieve their chewy texture.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 15 minutes to set properly before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Do not overbake the cookies to maintain their chewiness; slightly underbaked is perfect.
- Using natural creamy peanut butter is recommended for the best flavor.
- Softened butter should be at room temperature for easier mixing.
- For extra flavor balance, a sprinkle of sea salt on top contrasts nicely with the sweetness.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh and soft.
